MOTORBUS CONTROVERSIES IN WEST RIDING.
Page 21
Page 22
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Local Licensing Authorities and the Growth of Private Bus Services:
THE privately owned passenger transport undertakings In Yorkshire have been in conflict with the licensing authorities in almost every centre, and scarcely a day passes without some reference being made, in the daily papers circulating in the county, to some negotiations between one municipality and another with regard to transport services. The growth of bus services has been phenomenal in all parts of the county, particularly in the industrial districts, or, perhaps, to be more exact, in the districts surrounding the towns which cluster so closely in the West Riding. There is now an almost complete network of routes net only between the towns but also with the East Lancashire towns. Although the bulk of the services link up comparatively large centres of population, and through traffic is a big feature of the work, travel on any of the services impresses one with the number of short-journey passengers, particularly in the case of residents in the new suburbs which have sprung up following the activities of the speculative builder.
Developments in this area have been remarkable in view of the fact that tramway services had been thrown out like mighty tentacles by the big corporations, in the days before the war, when construction costs were low. For a while it looked as if the trams would form a barrier to other road services travelling citywards. Later developments have shown, however, that it was futile for motorbus owners to limit their services to acting as feeders for the tramways. Even the big corporations with tramway services have realized this with their own motorbus services, and the result has been that motorbus owners have used every endeavour to carry their services right into the hearts of the towns to enable passengers to reach their objective with as little trouble as Possible. Consequently there has arisen a spirit of rivalry between the motorbus and the tram, and it was natural that obstacles should be put in the way of the development of the motorbus services by the municipal authorities, and the powers to grant or refuse licences used in a repressive manner rather than as a safeguard to the interests of the travelling public.
In, Leeds, Bradford, Halifax and Huddersfield deadlocks have arisen between the private bus owners and the local authorities and have been, or are even now being, fought out step by step and by various means. In the case of Leeds it would appear that the matter has been settled for a time, and, although the bus owners, who combined and fought a strenuous battle, have not accepted the decision as final, they have won a signal victory, as the corporation, through the watch committee, intended to impose conditions which were totally impossible and would have kept the buses off the streets. Now it has been arranged to establish seven stands from which vehicles would run to 28 destinations. Twentythree proprietors were concerned, and of these only five resided within the city of Leeds. The routes we're
pally on eight roads from the centre of the city, and 143 vehicles will be used with 64 others licensed for the maintenance of services in the case of breakdowns.
At Bradford a decision has been reached in a case which is likely to rank as a cause célèbre in motorbus history, and here again the private owner has held his own and the municipal authority has had to haul down its colours. The West Riding Automobile Co., one of the few big concerns running motor services in the West Riding before the recent developments took place, sought to run a through service from Wakefield to Bradford, but the Bradford Fire Brigade and Licensing Committee held that the route from the centre of the city to Drighlingt.on was sufficiently served by the corporation trams. An inquiry was held by the Ministry of Transport, at which the corporation was opposed (as has been the case in quite a number of these inquiries), by organizations of tradespeople and shopkeepers in the city itself and by representatives of smaller local authorities rn the outskirts of the city. The result of the inquiry was received in January and was to the effect that the decision of the licensing committee in refusing to grant licences could not be accepted. But the city council resolutely refused to accept the intimation of the Ministry and, over the heads of the resistiag councillors, the Ministry issued licences to the company, this being the first instance where such a step has been taken by the Ministry.
Thus the company's refusal to act as a mere feeder to the tramway service has been maintained by the highest authority, and the decision has been awaited with some interest. One Bradford company, Blythe and Berwick, Ltd., has intimated that it wants to run buses to and from Harrogate, Otley, Ilkley, Baildon, Bingley and Clayton from the centre of Bradford and, consequently, it is• likely that there will be developments of a far-reaching character before very long now that there is an indication that the powers that be do not look favourably upon a tramway monopoly.
Halifax Corporation has been severely criticised by ratepayers and by other authorities on the grounds that its tramway service needed a heavy expenditure to provide a satisfactory service, and also because of the cost incurred in relaying tram-track where it was worn out. There have been
many advocates of the employment of motorbuses, but the council apparentlyprefer to adhere to trams. On two occasions they have taken proceedings against Messrs. 0. and C. Holdsworth in connection with that firm's services to neighbouring districts and an appeal to the Ministry is pending in these cases. Messrs. Holds worth were also concerned in an appeal to the Ministry of Transport for licences at Huddersfield for a through service from Halifax to Huddersfield, and, at the same hearing, evidence was given in regard to the application of Joseph Hanson and Sons, Ltd., of alilnsbridge. who are running services from Milimbridge to Huddersfield and desired to run from Huddersfield to Linthwaite and also to Paddock Head, and of Messrs. P. and W. Firth, of Bailiffe Bridge, who desire to commence a route touching Bailiffe Bridge, Brighouse and Huddersfield. .
The cost of tramway renewals is almost prohibitive to-day, but there have been fewer substitutions of motorbus services for tram services than would be expected ; on the other hand, there have been very few miles of new tram-track laid down since the war, and the developments which have occurred have been in the way of providing motorbus services on the part of the municipal authorities. Almost all the West Riding towns have trams and trolley-buses, or trams and trailless services working in conjunction. Municipal authorities are at a disadvantage in regard to providing through services from town to town, but conferences have been held in which Halifax and Huddersfield have been represented in connection with the linking-up of services in Yorkshire with tramway services almost up to Manchester and strengthening the links between the West Riding and Lancashire.
The advantages bestowed upon shoppers and shopkeepers by the institution of the bus services may be judged by the vigorous support tradespeople give to the applications for licences, and the way in which the public has rallied to support the promoters of bus routes has been remarkable indeed. Provided a satisfactory service at A. convenient time is put on, no matter how deserted a road appeared to be in the past, support appears to be assured and people have been literally fascinated by motorbus facilities.